NIGHT SKY AND DARK ENVIRONMENTS: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT ON BLM-MANAGED LANDS TECHNICAL NOTE 457 50 5.1.11 Establish a Lighting and Light Pollution Monitoring Program A monitoring program for the collection and analysis of lighting and light pollution data protects against “ad hoc” lighting additions and poor lighting practices, identifies potentially underperforming BMPs, and helps detect malfunctioning lighting and controls. Monitoring light pollution over time is also essential for resource quality assessment. Notes: Staff effort and equipment are required to conduct monitoring. A method for assessing light pollution that could be used for monitoring purposes is discussed by Jechow et al. (2019); however, it does not include a monitoring protocol. 5.2 BMPs for Lighting Only If Needed The following BMPs address lighting avoidance where possible. Note that the BLM cannot control skyglow from distant sources or light trespass from neighboring areas. 5.2.1 Critique New or Evaluate Existing Lighting Systems Assess all sources of illumination and remove those that do not serve an operational, safety, or security need. Consider if a light is necessary to maintain when replacement is needed. Assess the level of light necessary and the position of lights, their brightness, and color temperature. Elimination of unnecessary lights can provide immediate relief from environmental light pollution, benefitting both wildlife and humans. It also saves money, reduces wasted energy, and may improve safety and security in overlit/glare situations. A scientist in the field uses photographic equipment to assess night sky darkness. This is Vista Point in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, which shows a stark contrast of unlit landscape against the developed Coachella Valley.
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